Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Constraints on mantle melting at mid-ocean ridges from global 238U–230Th disequilibrium data

Nature volume 384, pages 231–235 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

The extent of radioactive disequilibrium between 238U and its daughter product 230Th in mid-ocean-ridge basalts from around the world is negatively correlated with axial ridge depth; local positive correlations with inferred mantle source composition are also observed. The larger 230Th excesses seen in samples from shallow ridges reflect a larger melt contribution from a garnet-bearing source which may be explained by a deepening of the solidus in hotter mantle regions. These observations provide important constraints for modelling melt generation at mid-ocean ridges.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Klein, E. M. & Langmuir, C. H. J. Geophys. Res. 92, 8089–8115 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Langmuir, C. H., Klein, E. M. & Plank, T. in Mantle Flow and Melt Generation at Mid-ocean Ridges (eds Phipps Morgan, J., Blackman, D. K. & Sinton, J. M.) 183–280 (Am. Geophys. Union, Washington, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Langmuir, C. H. & Hanson, G. N. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A 297, 383–407 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shen, Y. & Forsyth, D. W. J. Geophys. Res. 100, 2211–2238 (1995).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Albarède, F. J. Geophys. Res. 97, 10997–11009 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hart, S. R., Schilling, J.-G. & Powell, J. L. Nature 246, 104–107 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. White, W. M. & Schilling, J.-G. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 42, 1501–1516 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zindler, A., Staudigel, H. & Batiza, R. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 70, 175–195 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Beattie, P. D. Nature 363, 63–65 (1993).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. LaTourrette, T. Z., Kennedy, A. K. & Wasserburg, G. J. Science 261, 739–742 (1993).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bourdon, B., Langmuir, C. H. & Zindler, A. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 142, 175–189 (1996).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bender, J. F., Langmuir, C. H. & Hanson, G. N. J. Petrol. 25, 213–254 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Condomines, M., Morand, P. & Allègre, C. J. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 55, 247–256 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Reinitz, I. & Turekian, K. K. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 94, 199–207 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Goldstein, S. J., Murrell, M. T. & Janecky, D. R. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 96, 134–146 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Goldstein, S. J., Murrell, M. T., Janecky, D. R., Delaney, J. R. & Clague, D. A. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 107, 25–41 (1991).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zindler, A. et al. Anal. Chem. (submitted).

  18. Rubin, K. & MacDougall, J. D. Nature 335, 158–161 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rubin, K. & MacDougall, J. D. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 101, 313–322 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Volpe, A. & Goldstein, S. J. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 57, 1233–1242 (1993).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Condomines, M., Morand, P. & Allègre, C. J. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 55, 393–406 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hémond, C. et al. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 87, 273–285 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Nicholson, H., Condomines, M. & Fitton, J. G. J. Petrol. 32, 1005–1050 (1991).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sigmarsson, O., Condomines, M. & Gronvold, K. Geophys. Res. Lett. 18, 2229–2232 (1991).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sigmarsson, O., Condomines, M. & Fourcade, S. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 112, 20–35 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Chabaux, F. & Allègre, C. J. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 126, 61–74 (1994).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hirschmann, M. & Stolper, E. M. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 26(7), 38 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ben Othman, D. & Allègre, C. J. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 98, 129–137 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lundstrom, C. C., Gill, J., Williams, Q. & Perfit, M. R. Science 270, 1958–1961 (1995).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hirschmann, M. & Stolper, E. M. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 124, 185–208 (1996).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. McKenzie, D. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 72, 149–157 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Williams, R. W. & Gill, J. B. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 53, 1607–1619 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Spiegelman, M. & Elliott, T. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 118, 1–20 (1993).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Iwamori, H. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 125, 1–16 (1994).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Richardson, C. & McKenzie, D. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 128, 425–437 (1994).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Sparks, D. W., Parmentier, E. M. & Phipps Morgan, J. J. Geopnys. Res. 92, 8089–8115 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Hirose, K. & Kawamoto, T. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 133, 463–475 (1995).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Hanson, G. N. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 134, 235–253 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. White, W. M. & Hofmann, A. Nature 296, 821–825 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Allègre, C. J. & Turcotte, D. L. Nature 323, 123–127 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Prinzhofer, A., Lewin, E. & Allègre, C. J. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 92, 189–206 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Schilling, J.-G. Nature 242, 565–571 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Zindler, A. & Salters, V. in Plume 2 (eds Anderson, D. L, Hart, S. R. & Hofmann, A. W.) 166–169 (Terra Nostra Vol. 3, Alfred-Wegener-Stiftung, Bonn, 1995).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Rubin, K. & MacDougall, J. D. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 114, 149–157 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Zindler, A. et al. Trans. Am. Geophys. Un. 73, 375 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Graham, D. W. et al. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 99, 446–463 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Graham, D. W., Jenkins, W. J., Kurz, M. D. & Batiza, M. D. Nature 326, 384–386 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Salters, V. J. M. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 141, 109–123 (1996).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Goldstein, S. J., Murrell, M. T. & Williams, R. W. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 115, 151–159 (1993).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Bourdon, B. thesis, Columbia Univ. (1994).

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. B. Bourdon

    Present address: Laboratoire de Géochimie et Cosmochimie, CNRS, IPGP, 4, Place Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, New York, 10964, USA

    B. Bourdon, A. Zindler, T. Elliott & C. H. Langmuir

  2. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Department of Geology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, USA

    A. Zindler

  3. Faculteit der Aardwetenschappen, Vrije Universiteit, de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    T. Elliott

Authors
  1. B. Bourdon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Zindler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Elliott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. H. Langmuir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bourdon, B., Zindler, A., Elliott, T. et al. Constraints on mantle melting at mid-ocean ridges from global 238U–230Th disequilibrium data. Nature 384, 231–235 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/384231a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/384231a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing